The Blade Dive

The Blade Dive Episode 33 - We are joined by the humble, genuine  and all round' badass Snowcat operator…Ty Weed! Hailing from Canada, Weed was eventually placed around creditable and highly influential operators such as Charles Beckinsale, Lucas Ouellette and Steve Petrie. Ty Weed has contributed to Whistler Blackcomb, Canada's Terrain Park for almost two decades and in doing ,so landed an awesome opportunity with Arena Snowparks. Ty Weed has built features for brands and companies such as Monster Energy, Redbull, Matchstick Productions and FIS.

Growing up in Pitt Meadows, Canada, Ty Weed took an interest in board sports early on.  So much though, that being outside was where Weed was  happiest. With a nudge from school leadership, Weed was able to pursue volunteer work at the near by mountain, Mount Seymour, Canada.

Ty Weed, would later adventure towards Whistler. To pay the bills initially, Weed was a door man, checking ID’s at the local watering hole. Eventually Weed would land an interview for Park Crew, and the rest is history. Enter Lucas Ouellette,  and a friendship that is treasured and a job with Arena Snowparks. Weed still operates Snowcats, but in recent years has created his own Home Inspection business. Ty Weed is well respected by many and to this day, continues to be sought after for industry insight and advice on building techniques.

Episode 31 is a really interesting listen into the life and career of someone who is so passionate about the Snowboard community but absolutely treasures his family time at home. We discuss “The Stoke” and what it means to each of us, being a parent and operating on swing shift and the sincere value of surrounding yourself with good people. The conversation was so much fun. 


Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive, Episode 32 - We are joined by Pennsylvania native , Kristin Lenart.  Lenart grew up stoked on exploring  everything and anything that was an outdoor activity in the surrounding area and skiing quickly became an obsession. Lenart has built Terrain Parks for Bear Creek, Blue Mountain and June Mountain. Lenart is also a professional Mountain Bike Racer and the excavator is her machine of choice.

Kristin Lenart would take an interest in machines later in life, but prior to that, gravitated towards welding fabrication and would earn her certification. Lenart also pursued structural  auto body school and upon graduating worked on cars prior to diving into the Terrain Park world.

Since being a Terrain Park Manager, Kristin has been West and worked in California at June Mountain. From that experience came the realization that you can’t run from your problems. Moving back east and landing at Blue Mountain allowed Lenart to achieve a future she was interested in creating.

Episode 31 is a deep dive conversation. The operator in the Virtual Booth is a professional, authentic and is supported as well as respected by the mountain she works for.  We discuss the ratio of male to female park managers, Bike Park trail construction as well as the progression of Bike Park resort guests.  We talk about the practice of being pragmatic as well as the fun of June Mountain. 

Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive, Episode 31 - We are Joined by the Colorado native  that comes from California roots, Kyle Markman.  Growing up Surfing, Skateboarding and snowboarding on the West Coast, on Seal Beach, California… the Markman family would eventually move to Durango, Colorado. Having read Snowboarder Magazine, Kyle Markman took an interest in Snowboarding via the power of print. Markman would later land jobs in a Snowcat at Purgatory Ski Area, CO… Keystone, CO… Eldora Mountain, CO.

Kyle Markman is no stranger to pushing the limits of his own Snowboarding, but he’s also constantly focusing on pushing the limits of what he can do in a Snowcat. Markman gravitated to transition builds and Zaugg operations, in an attempt to separate himself from other operators, Markman claims to have been building Zaugg features when Zaugg operations wasn’t cool.

Pushing the limits doesn’t come without risk. Markman has 26 broken bones and has not only learned how to pick himself up off the ground but knows first hand how much of a commitment it is to be a master builder and put the trade skill above all else.  Markman has been a part of Superpark, Women’s Superpark and The Launch, all of which were created by Snowboarder Magazine. Kyle was a part of the legendary A51 park at Keystone and is the previous Manager of the Terrain Park at Eldora.

Episode 31 is an interesting listen. The conversation with Markman is assumed to be filled with ego, based on the Resume bullet points listed above. But the reality is that it’s really not. We talk about real life shit, from mental health to depression and anxiety. We cover what it’s like to be a dad and be a Snowcat operator, that physical health is so important, whether progression is linked to a wide marketing net, is the local valued, how the playlist evolves during the build and as always…the prediction of the future.

Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive- Episode 30,  we are joined by Chloe Butel. Born in Europe,  originally from France, Butel relocated to United States with her family at a young age and would call the Bay Area of California home.  Butel found adventure in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, surrounding Lake Tahoe. Butel learned to ski in the Alps, so naturally, skiing or riding the Sierra’s came easy.  Furthering her interests in science, agriculture, vehicle maintenance and mother nature... Butel fell in love with the Snow Industry and has found herself placed amongst industry greats, to the likes of Tyson Terpening, Garrett Froelich, Brandon Dodds, Frank Wells and Charles Beckinsale. 

Chloe Butel calls Sierra at Tahoe her 'home mountain' and enjoys every minute that she is amongst the trees. Butel is a 3rd year Terrain Park operator, whose drive to contribute in any capacity within an operations team is next level. Butel is also an advocate for the future of the industry, all while being present in the moment at hand. Butel’s biggest contribution that outshines any jump ever built, is her ability to speak up for Women in the industry and lead the charge for new events like “Take the Rake” at Trollhaugen, Wisconsin. 

Episode 30 is a deep dive into the reality of the industry’s current state. The episode is stacked with special guest questions. Chloe discusses her experiences operating Snowcats, the value of believing in people, finding the joy in the job, mental health, paying operators an appropriate skill based/livable wage and much more.


Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive Episode 29 - We are joined by Vermont native and Killington’s superhero operator, Corey Tredtin.  Corey not only contributes to the Terrain Park, but goes outside the ropes to assist with all types of projects involving many different pieces of equipment. Like most, Tredtin had humble beginnings and still remembers the day he met Jay Rosenbaum, the KSA General.

Growing up in Vermont, Corey Tredtin played ice hockey and skied as well. Choosing to invest more time in skiing, the back yard Terrain Park at home came to life. Fast forward to meeting Jay Rosenbaum at the local skatepark and the rest is history.

Corey Tredtin would quickly develop a passion for building Killington’s Terrain Park and would ride along in the snow cat for hundreds of hours in the passenger seat, before getting behind the sticks. With guidance from Jay and others, Tredtin honed his skills and would contribute to large scale event builds at Killington such as the Modified Halfpipe and would travel to contribute to events like Superpark 16 at Mt. Bachelor. 

Episode 29 is a really fun dive into the life and career of Corey Tredtin through a long list of special guests who know Tredtin well. We discuss what it’s like to lift others up instead of elevating yourself, the mentality that rookie operators should have in order to be successful, how many ride along hours one should have and what current operators inspire Corey today.

Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive - Episode 28 we are joined by badass Photographer and Snowboarder turned Snowcat operator, Tyler Benton.  The third year operator is a  Connecticut native who was hooked on Snowboarding at a young age... and High Cascade Snowboard Camp would become the catalyst that would ignite an interest in pursuing Terrain Park operations as a career. 

• Growing up on the East Coast and working four different jobs to support college tuition at the university of Connecticut, Tyler Benton earned a degree in Mathematics and Economics.  The dude is smart, and wise... and is very strategic with his pursuit and path, how he wants to invest his time and grow his career, doing what he loves, enter High Cascade Snowboard Camp Photographer job. Benton would stay out west and relocate to the PNW; Bend, Oregon.

• Landing a job on the Terrain Park Day crew, Benton would eventually be given an opportunity to operate a Snowcat the following season and would find out that it’s not as easy as it looks. Benton, being a perfectionist, was grateful to have experienced operators around him but still stumbled through the unknown of how to build and groom on the graveyard shift. 

Episode 28 is as fresh perspective on how we can nurture the next generation of operators, instead of singing the “well, back in my day” song. Benton discusses the importance of investing in employees in every sense of the phrase... encouraging and believing in them. We cover the difficulties of training on graveyard and that new technologies shouldn’t be hated on. Lots of deep 'Blade Dives' in this one.

Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive, Episode 27 - We are joined by Canadian snowboard badass and Snowcat operator extraordinaire AKA “The Little Dipper”…Lucas Ouellette.  Lucas has spent time around the best operators in the industry as well as the best riders and skiers. Traveling the world to build Terrain Parks is a massive personal commitment and is consuming, but Ouellette is a family man who cherishes and prioritizes time with his family. The Ontario native is 100% all about sharing the STOKE! 

• Landing a Terrain Park Manager job at the age of 16 with Lakeridge Ski Resort, Ontario Canada was a pretty good sign and step in the right direction, to where Ouellette wanted to take his career. Eventually moving to Vancouver, Canada, Whistler Blackcomb would become the canvas. 

• Ouellette would later gain the trust of Steve Petrie and join Arena Snowparks. Ouellette has contributed to the company by fabricating features, from rails to boxes and everything in between, building contest venues, photoshoot features etc. Ouellette wants to keep parks evolving and growing as well as the ridership….period. 

Episode 27 is a real deep dive into Lucas Ouellette’s vision of Terrain Parks. We discuss the value in creating parks that are accessible for everyone, what life would look like without Snowboarding, wearing multiple hats of responsibility within a company, how important it is to learn from your mistakes.

Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive - Episode 26, we are joined by Michigan native, Nicholas Symon,  AKA Sic Nik! Symon is another Snow Industry lifer, who has been an anchor operator for the Breckinridge Terrain Park Crew. Specifically, Symon specializes in Halfpipe construction and claims to have learned from one of the best, if not the best….Brad Hoerter. 

• Originally from Lansing, Michigan, Nicholas Symon found an escape from the cloudy winters and bitter cold of the mid west via a train ticket that took him to Alta Ski Area, Utah. Suddenly immersed in a new environment, centered around skiing and living life to the fullest, friends and future operator Mark Daigler would help keep that mission for living alive and would land Symon in Breckinridge, Colorado  behind the sticks of a Snowcat. 

• Nicholas Symon has been a part of the Halfpipe construction at Breckinridge resort for what would have been 2 decades if the pipe were to still be in existance, but alas, it doesn’t.  For an operator who has seen and experienced first hand, so much in his career, at an array of resorts…Dew Tour, Cutters Camp, US Open, home is where the heart is and Symon is so passionate about the Halfpipe at Breck. He is also passionate about the sharing of skill and knowledge and the value in teaching operators and we unpack what the future looks like... 

Episode 26 is a deep dive into the world of Halfpipe construction and operator culture. We discuss the difficulties of their construction and that one skilled operator at a mountain/resort  isn’t enough to sustain a Halfpipe or an individual, long term. How can we develop training? Are wage increases a game changer?


Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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The Blade Dive, Episode 25 -We are joined by industry lifer Tyrone Coyne. Many have claimed Coyne to be the originator of modern Terrain Park feature fabrication and Coyne has also held Terrain Park Manger positions at Mt. High and Bear Mountain resorts in California. Coyne’s largest contribution to the snow industry could be claimed as either his time with Snow Park Technologies or the creation of his own feature factory….Superparx. 

• Originally from the East coast of the US, Tyrone Coyne was the youngest kid in the family, with 5 older sisters. Eventually moving West, that’s a story Tyrone tells best, Snowboarding eventually became an interest and very quickly became an obsession. Coyne at one point had “thrown in the towel” and began cleaning pools for income instead of pursuing a career as a pro Snowboarder. Mike Binnell would eventually help Tyrone get back on snow. 

• Tyrone Coyne would go on to manage park programs and join Snow Park Technologies as well as develop new methods of feature fabrication. His primary tool of choice, Sketch up. Coyne attends burning man every year and is stoked to be a part of that community. 

Episode 25 is an honest conversation about being yourself and the fact that while doing so, you’ll more than likely find what your passionate about, as well as who your biggest supporters are. Within this “industry of cool”, Tyrone Coyne has carved out his own path and we discuss the highs, lows and everything in between.

Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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Episode 24 - We are joined by Canadian operator and sought after mechanic, Cody Niebrugge. Niebrugge has worked at several world renowned resorts such as Revelstoke,  British Columbia - Canada,  Lake Louise, Alberta - Canada, Mount Hotham, NSW - Australia. 

• Growing up just outside of Saskatchewan in central Canada, Niebrugge is the youngest of 2 kids and on the family farm there was nothing more to do but get into trouble, that however meant lots of outside adventures, which Niebrugge loved. Once again, on The Blade Dive, we quickly discover that work ethic was established from hard work early on.

• Cody Niebrugge’s brother would later pursue a  fishing/guiding career,  which would become the catalyst for Niebrugge’s career.  Niebrugge’s mom should be given all the credit for showing him Skiing for the first time and following the viewing of a TV show focused on Snow Cats, Niebrugge never looked back and was obsessed. 

Having now travelled the world and having had opportunities to work for both Snow Cat manufacturers, Cody Niebrugge owns CNIE Industries and works as a contractor selling his skill, time and energy to those who need Snow Cat maintenance/repairs completed. We discuss how to approach and properly communicate with mechanics, what machine write ups should include, whether or not being the hero is a safety issue,  what it’s like working as a mechanic, good operators and bad habits, mechanic pay dilemma etc.

Enjoy...  and if you're in the machine, go ahead and TURN THE VOLUME UP!

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